“For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.”
1 John 5:4 (NLT)
John tells us that every child of God defeats this evil world—and the way we do it is through faith. This echoes what he said earlier in 1 John 4:4, where believers are reminded that the Spirit living in us is greater than the spirit in the world. But here, John gives us another layer of truth: faith is the pathway to victory.
Faith in Jesus makes us children of God. And as children, our love for Him overflows into love for His people. John says we show love by keeping God’s commandments, which aren’t burdensome because His grace empowers us to obey. When we live from grace, obedience becomes a delight, not a duty. God’s commands are never meant to harm us—they protect us, guide us, and train us to walk in freedom.
The world sees restraint as loss, but God calls it wisdom. His way may look hard to the flesh, yet it leads to peace and victory. The person who tries to be their own provider ends up enslaved to debt, but the one who trusts God’s Word finds rest and contentment. That’s faith in action—believing that God’s way is better even when the world says otherwise.
Through faith in Jesus, we’re filled with His Spirit, equipped to love, and strengthened to overcome. We don’t just survive the world—we conquer it. Only believers can truly win this battle because victory is found in Him alone. But this victory isn’t meant to be kept to ourselves—it’s a gift the world desperately needs. The world’s way is crushing, but Jesus’ way sets people free. Every time we choose faith over fear, obedience over compromise, and truth over comfort, we’re showing others what real life looks like.
In Christ, we don’t lose—we live.